With a vibrant ecosystem, wildlife, and Bunun culture, the Danda area is a diamond in the rough waiting for its moment to shine.

“We often envision the ideal of young people coming home, but have we ever questioned:What will make young people go home ? Is there any industry that can support them? What kind of economic guarantee is there? What kind of industry can allow young people to come home and start a family?”, reflected Chien Chia-Yu, Chairperson of The Tree of Music Environment Education Association of Taiwan. The association has spent years working in the Bayan community of Jinshan District, New Taipei City at a grassroots level.

They drove the local community, living environment, and agriculture towards sustainable development, and worked hard to transform their hometown into the wonderful sight as what we see today.

It’s lonely to walk without the company. Yet, if people try to join forces, they conquer all. "When we tried to promote the community's industries, we found that one community working alone showed little strength. However, if the six units working together, that's a different story."

As the community began to wither away, a group of senior locals founded the Miaoli County Traditional Settlement Culture Association. Revitalization came alone as they combined resources from Workforce Development Agency (WDA), Ministry of Labor. Luzhunan then built up a reputation within Toufen and Zhunan areas. These small-town residents really made the most of local resources!

“When the association first began doing organic farming, people laughed at us and called us fool, saying it would never work, but we persevered. It has been a tough journey to try and subvert conventions, but we did it. We changed people's thoughts, and many people are joining up!”